G19 pledge to stick to Paris climate agreement

All G20 countries except the U.S. agree that the Paris climate accord is "irreversible," and they "reiterate the importance" of meeting their national commitments to it, according to a draft of the joint statement today.

G20 leaders are meeting in Hamburg, Germany, today and Saturday. The section of the statement on energy and climate change, seen by POLITICO, forms a compromise with the U.S. on areas such as investment in clean technologies and infrastructure.

However, it "takes note" of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement.

"The leaders of the other G20 members agree that the Paris agreement is irreversible," it said, adding that they remain committed to helping provide financial resources for developing countries to mitigate climate change and adapt to its effects.

If adopted, the statement will mark a success for the German presidency by maintaining a cohesive climate position among the G19.

They also reaffirmed their commitment to "swiftly" bringing the Paris Agreement and the United Nations' broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to full implementation, while acknowledging that developed and developing countries have "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities."

All 20 countries found something in common: They point to energy security as a "guiding principle" for transforming their energy systems and promise to work on "open, flexible and transparent markets for energy commodities and technologies."